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Texas Tech football: The Red Raiders will beat TCU if…

By Matthew Conner

Nov 29, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver KeSean Carter (82) signals to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass against the Texas Longhorns in the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver KeSean Carter (82) signals to the crowd after catching a touchdown pass against the Texas Longhorns in the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 31, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Henry Colombi (3) rushes against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Henry Colombi (3) rushes against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

…Colombi isn’t overwhelmed by the TCU defensive scheme

Another concern this afternoon is Henry Colombi facing the complex TCU 4-2-5 defense in just his third start as a collegiate QB.  But if he can solve Gary Patterson’s scheme, Tech will have a great shot at coming out on top.

The secondary is the strength of the TCU defense.  It begins with Trevon Moehrig-Woodard who many believe could be an early-round NFL Draft pick as early as next spring.  What’s more, La’Kendrick Van Zandt is a ball-hawk who already has two picks, a forced fumble, and a fumble return for a TD this season.

What’s more, the TCU scheme likes to clog the middle of the field, which is where Colombi has almost exclusively lived as the starting QB.  Lacking the prototypical arm strength of a Big 12 QB, Colombi won’t frighten TCU deep and that is going to make life all the more difficult on him against Patterson’s complicated scheme.

The Horned Frog defense is going to throw multiple looks at Colombi.  He’s going to see Patterson’s safeties and linebackers play plenty of games at the line of scrimmage and it will be imperative that he decipher correctly what he’s facing.

In recent years, we’ve seen the TCU scheme confuse more experienced Red Raider QBs so it is fair to worry about Colombi being able to read correctly what the Frogs are doing.  This is why we will likely see a slower-paced offensive attack that allows the players on the field to look over at the sidelines and get the calls from the coaching staff.  But as we discussed earlier, that could help protect Tech’s thin defense as well as help putting Colombi in a position to succeed.

This will be the biggest test Colombi has faced thus far as a collegiate.  But if he can figure out how to decode what Patterson is doing, it will give Tech a great opportunity to win this game.

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